This Holiday Season
By Yvonne Phillips FSII
The long standing
tradition of festivals of lights is a tribute to celebrating all the good
things in life and of the joy of holiday seasons. Filling the home with lights, music and
hosting families and friends to celebrate is what makes festive occasions so
memorable.
With another
Christmas season coming around the corner, homes, neighborhoods, city squares
and parks will be glowing with thousands of twinkling lights and candles,
lighting up the night skies at the darkest time of the year. What would Christmas be without the magical effect
of twinkling lights?
The action of
twinkling lights turning on and off creates the effect of “new light” being
continually generated, warding off the opposing darkness of night with each
twinkle. The result is the creation of
happy energy and joyful vibrations to uplift the spirit. The ancient art of Feng Shui reveres light as
a Yang activator, increasing the cheer and positive energy in the environment. As a perfect reflection of the Tai Chi of Yin
and Yang, the twinkling of lights represents new energy being created and the
celestial balance of opposing forces of light and dark in harmony with each
other. One can’t help but feel affected
by the positive energy created by the display of contrasting energies in a complementary
dance of light.
Throughout the
world with all celebratory occasions, the power of lights has been creatively
harnessed in grand displays of glowing triumph to inspire and uplift the
senses. No matter what culture, people
naturally understand and celebrate the symbolism of the forces of light winning
over darkness. Many religious
traditions, such as the Christians, Hindus or Buddhists have understood the
effect of lights in the either the form of candles, lanterns or modern day
electrical lighting, to signify offerings to God. With light being revered as the manifestation
of yang chi, the more and brighter the lights at ceremonies and altars, the
greater the spiritual strength and upliftment of the devotees and worshipers.
The magical
science of Feng Shui regards twinkling lights as powerfully attracting the
energy of good fortune, and as a tool for enhancing business and more
customers. The Chinese have known this
for centuries and utilize twinkling lights and Chinese Wealth Trees in their homes
and businesses. It’s known that shopping
malls with large Christmas trees and twinkling lights benefit from increased
sales by naturally attracting customers, in comparison to trees with stationary
lighting. With each twinkle of light,
energy is activating the positive vibration of the premises.
In the home,
twinkling lights offer a warm welcome to friends and family upon entering,
lifting moods and increasing harmony, peace and joy. Any home can benefit from utilizing twinkling
lights at all times of the year, and it’s wise to incorporate this beneficial
and ancient Feng Shui tool for happy ambience, abundance and good will.
The universal
understanding of good is perfectly reflected in grand displays of twinkling
lights. Motivated by nostalgic sentiment,
tradition, spiritual upliftment or the knowledge of Feng Shui, many cultures
uphold collective ceremonies of lighting millions of lights on certain nights
of the year. So as the festive season
approaches around the globe with Winter Solstice, Christmas and New Year’s Eve,
remember that a little twinkling lights can go a long way in creating a festive
and joyful ambience.